This was inspired by the 1982 movie E.T., about an alien who comes to Earth and tries to return home. When E.T. (Extra Terrestrial) flies, his heart glows, which is the "heartlight." Diamond says he was trying to create "a simple musical statement that we all felt very sincerely." (thanks, Jay - Glen Burnie, MD)

Diamond wrote this with Carole Bayer Sager and Burt Bacharach, who were married at the time. The songwriters attended a screening of the movie together, then went to Sager and Bacharach's apartment and wrote the song. Diamond called it "A simple musical statement that we all felt very sincerely."

Around the same time, Kenny Loggins also released a song called "Heartlight," which was inspired by a school of that name in Los Angeles.

Comments: 6

On September 5th 1982, "Heartlight" by Neil Diamond entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #69, and on November 7th, 1982 it peaked at #5 {for 4 weeks} and spent 19 weeks on the Top 100...It reached #1 {for 4 weeks} on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...Between 1966 and 1986 he had fifty-five Top 100 records; twelve made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "Cracklin' Rose" for 1 week on October 4th, 1970 and "Song Sung Blue" for 1 week on June 25th, 1972…He just missed having fifteen Top 10 records when "Play Me" {1972}, "If You Know What I Mean" {1976}, and "Yesterday's Songs" {1982} all peaked at #11...Neil Leslie Diamond will celebrate her 74th birthday in four months on January 24th {2015}.Barry - Sauquoit, Ny

That was Neil's last Top Ten hit on the US chartsAdrian - Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Diamond should have been slapped silly for this idiotic merchandising song. Signaled the sad end of desire to hear anything new from him. His 60s-70s stuff was great, but anything after that...PPTTHHHHHH!!Esskayess - Dallas, Tx

Universal Studios demanded the songwriters pay $25,000 for use of the idea leading to the song.Chris - Nagoya, Japan

If there was a musical version of ET, it would be the part where Elliott sings the song before ET leaves Earth to his home.Jason - Pasadena, Ca